New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc Marathon!

New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc Marathon! – Episode #390

January 21, 2008

Gary gets serious and goes through a bunch of NZ sauv blancs!

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Comments on this episode(219) Leave a comment ›

“QOTD: I havent had enough to really answer that, but I did have a Vil…” by Dessert Wine Nerd
“Best SB I had while I was in NZ (and I had quite a few) was Mount Rile…” by Charlie
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Wines tasted in this episode:

2007 Arona Sauvignon BlancNew Zealand Sauvignon Blanc
2006 Tohu Sauvignon BlancNew Zealand Sauvignon Blanc
2007 New Harbor Sauvignon BlancNew Zealand Sauvignon Blanc
2007 Chasing Venus Sauvignon BlancNew Zealand Sauvignon Blanc
2006 Nobilo Sauvignon Blanc IconNew Zealand Sauvignon Blanc
2006 Discovery Sauvignon BlancNew Zealand Sauvignon Blanc
2007 Kim Crawford Sauvignon BlancNew Zealand Sauvignon Blanc

219 Responses

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January 22, 2008

Ondra
Gary, when talking about sauvignon blanc, the best description of its aromatic profile is “nettle”. I almost felt you were searching for the exact component besides the usual “grass” and “grapefruit”. (I have no idea how common is this flower in the US but it is everywhere in Europe.) The French word for “nettle” is “ortie”, the spanish is “ortiga”, and it is “ÐºÑ€Ð°Ð¿Ð¸Ð²Ð°” in Russian.
January 22, 2008

Oregon Jim
Qotd ‘05 Dog Point is the pinnacle of my NZ SB experience. I will try some of the labels the other Vayniacs are throwing down. I also have had the the last few vintages of Kim Crawford and found the ‘06 to be good, but it absolutely needs food because the acidity can really take your little tastebuds out on a date and bring them home sans underwear.
January 22, 2008

ev
I forgot, the Matua I really enjoyed, and as I remember was $10-11. Regular Nobilo, by far the worst
January 22, 2008

ev
qod———-Brancott Reserve from about 4 years ago, I’m guessing 2002
January 22, 2008

Panoca
QOTD: huge fan of the New Zeland S.B. My favorite till last year was Kim Crawford. Specially the 06. the new 07 is way inferior. All tried most of the brands and right now i stick to Babich 06 or Drylands 07. Really Good stuff.
January 22, 2008

TGSnyd
You seem very concerned about the price of the wines, just try to enjoy them for what they are, it’s not like seventeen bones really amounts to much. I will admit I am a fan of Kim Crawford, and if you can find a better NZ SB for less, then let me know. You can find a good NZ Sauv. Blanc for $11, but I have yet to try one that I like as much. GREEN MaCHINE, not quite ripe lime, green lemons, green green extra-green grass, not that’s some good grass!
January 22, 2008

Withnail
Not a category I enjoy but I liked the episode.
January 22, 2008

Triple_J
QOTD: Jackson Estate is the best Sauv Blanc I’ve ever had. A little pricey though, so I usually reach for an Oyster Bay (second fav).
January 22, 2008

Yoni Rabkin
Link it up Mott Ts!
January 22, 2008

Moselman
NZSB, no thanks. Only tried a couple, both quite forgettable. But I’ll look for a couple of those from this show, as well as compare a couple of other Honourable Mentions I’ve seen lately: Babich and Villa Maria. Looking for the so-far elusive NZ unique taste. Have to up my price range a bit, I guess. OK, as I’m looking at going South Beach (cholesterol problem), so will go for substituting quantity with quality (here’s hoping).

Couldn’t twig to how Manning was tied to SauvBlanc. I wonder if the _other_ SB will become an acquired taste â€“ highly unlikely. Anyway, GO GIANTS – win it for Sam Huff (what was his number, Gary?)
January 22, 2008

Dodger Blue
QOTD: 05 Matua valley paretai estate series and 05 Isabel SB. Loved it.
I was a big fan of NZ SB 2 years ago. Now I’m more into Loire Valley white.
I just had 07 Drylands SB the other day and it was just…O.K.
January 22, 2008

Eric
Nice episode Gary, I love these marathon shows.

qotd: Haven’t had one, but i picked up a Two Angels Sauv Blanc at costco that I really liked. I was lucky enough to find another almost 3 months later. A little pricey at $14, but still a good bottle.
January 22, 2008

Cookiedds
How about trying something new, try spitting off screen like a cherubic fountain instead of in a bucket. Maybe have a big blue plastic wading pool on the floor……..or into a shopvac hose.
January 22, 2008

Rob Csenar
QOTD: Matua – from Marlborough like a lot of others. $8 at Costco. A great value and a fun crisp effort.
January 21, 2008

Mike Z
I had a 2000 or 2001 (can’t remember which) Cloudy Bay several years ago… it was lovely. I like NZ Sauv. Blanc a lot, but I go more for the Loire stuff these days; it’s less overpowering.
January 21, 2008

KODI
Great show!

We are a big NZ SB drnking family and waver between (cheapest to most expensive) Brancott, Amaka Springs, Kim crawford and just recently found a great new one that is better than all of them (or maybe it is just a little different)… Wild Rock!
January 21, 2008

Jim Sargent
QOTD: I love the 06 Matua Valley.
January 21, 2008

Monica J
QOTD–The 2006 Silver Birch. I bought it at target, because the bottle was “cute”. What can I say, I am a sucker for marketing!
January 21, 2008

glenn
No NYG love???

dude?
January 21, 2008

markie
saint clair vicar-acid /w/ a burst of fresh mineral water in your mouth @ 11.99-it is an amazing wine /w/ oysters/mussels
January 21, 2008

CoolHandLuke
I had a Spyvalley that I enjoyed.
January 21, 2008

andy
my favorite sauvignon blanc from New Zealend is Nobilo.
January 21, 2008

downtnmark
Wow, it seems like the New Zealand edge over Napa is starting to shrink.

QOTD: Sorry. I have not yet tried a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. I don’t have friends that drink white wines so I don’t get the chance. The Napa SB’s that I have enjoyed include: Provenance, St. Clement, Whitehall Lane, and Caymus. (I try these while wine tasting in Napa.)
January 21, 2008

Glenn James
Gary, Thanks for the show, just the pick-up I needed as I mourn my Chargers loss.
QOTD- The 2006 Babich SB tripped my trigger.
January 21, 2008

Shadowbird
QOTD: Haven’t had any.